There are specific actors that actually embody a personality. Bruce Willis IS John McClane, Robert Englund IS Freddy Krueger, and Arnold Schwarzenegger IS the T-800. When a number of actors find yourself enjoying a personality, we get to have enjoyable debates on who the perfect portrayal was. Was Daniel Craig a greater James Bond than Roger Moore? Was Robert DeNiro a greater Don Corleone than Marlon Brando? Probably the greatest debates amongst horror followers, although, is who was the perfect to ever don the hockey masks and machete to play Jason Voorhees? Whereas there’s actually a case to be made for Ken Kirzinger and even Derek Mears, for my cash the title is and all the time will belong to Kane Hodder, the person who modified the masks. You’ll be able to see the person for your self in our unique interview on the finish of the video embedded above however earlier than that, let me let you know just a little bit about WHY he holds that very unique title.
Kane Hodder was born in Auburn, California within the mid-Nineteen Fifties and spent a lot of his early childhood being bullied each bodily and emotionally earlier than peacing out to an island and discovering shirtless seashores and the calm of being alone. He would ultimately come again stateside and discover one in every of his true loves and calling in stuntwork. Sadly, at simply 22 years previous he was virtually killed in a tragic accident that gave him horrible burns on a lot of his physique. He would bounce again, although, and seem in enjoyable minor roles in issues like 1980’s Alligator, 1986’s Avenging Pressure, and a a lot larger position in 1987’s Jail from Renny Harlin. It will be that film that might change the trajectory of his profession ceaselessly. The particular results make up artist on that film? John Carl Beuchler. The person chosen to direct Friday the thirteenth Half VII: The New Blood? John Carl Beuchler. He selected Hodder over the incumbent CJ Graham, who had satirically hoped to make Jason Voorhees “his” character like Karloff had achieved for Frankenstein’s Monster, solely to lose that title to Hodder. After seeing Kane’s work within the film, he didn’t maintain any grudges. That must be half 1 of why he’s the perfect Jason: one other Jason wasn’t sore about shedding the position as a result of he’s simply that good.
Whereas many of the gore was sadly excised from half 7, Kane would cement his place in slasher historical past along with his portrayal of the newly minted zombie Jason. Oh, and do not forget that burn that just about ended his life and profession so a few years in the past? It will be on Friday the thirteenth Half VII, his first portrayal as Jason, that Hodder would set the report for the longest on display screen managed burn in Hollywood historical past. The person is dedicated. When the subsequent film started capturing, the studio was in search of a Canadian actor to play the a part of the masked killer, because the title may have been modified to Jason Takes Vancouver with how a lot of the flick was shot in Canada. This actually wasn’t as a result of they didn’t need Kane Hodder however truly didn’t assume he would wish to come again. He did and satisfied Paramount, and it was right here that Jason grew to become the true star of the franchise, with Kane enjoying the character on an episode of The Arsenio Corridor Present to advertise the film. This was the unique cut-off date the place an try at Freddy vs. Jason was made, an attention-grabbing proposal since, if legend is to be believed, Kane was briefly up for the a part of Freddy on account of his burn accident.
Whereas the franchise rights would transfer from Paramount to New Line, there was little question that Kane Hodder would return because the imposing killer. Jason Goes to Hell in all probability gave him his least quantity of labor as the guts of the killer passes from human to human (yeah we all know its dumb) however he does present up a pair other ways right here. Not solely does Kane present up as an FBI agent in an early scene within the morgue however can be the person utilizing the Freddy glove to tug the hockey masks all the way down to Hell. This makes him the one man to play Jason, Freddy, and Leatherface as he was one of many stunt performers for half three of the Texas Chainsaw Bloodbath sequence. He was additionally a stand-up man right here, serving to a frightened child who visited the set perceive what burns on a physique means and looks like. Once more, Kane was a vicious killer on display screen however an individual with a coronary heart of gold off.
Whereas Jason X can be the ultimate Friday movie to function Hodder within the position (sadly, Freddy vs. Jason wouldn’t have the 2 most well-known folks to play the roles sq. off), he did his regular factor. He performed pranks on set, got here up with concepts on easy methods to change kills, and made the expertise higher for all concerned. He would go on to a different icon of horror by enjoying Victor Crowley within the 4 films within the Hatchet sequence, one thing that looks like a really pure extension or religious successor to the Friday the thirteenth films, however he would go down as the perfect to put on the masks. Very like Pierce Brosnan’s run as James Bond, Hodder’s films actually aren’t the perfect within the sequence however perhaps that’s the perfect case for why he was the best Jason of all of them. On set and behind the scenes he was variety, educated, fearless, and beloved, however on display screen he would usually elevate a generic slasher or sub-par Friday movie right into a present. You’ll be able to’t assist however maintain your eyes glued to the person behind the masks. The character didn’t have a ton of character earlier than Hodder and he misplaced all of it after the person stopped his portrayals however for 4 films, we had the perfect we might ever get with the character by no means uttering a single phrase. Thanks, Kane, for making Jason the slasher we all the time knew he might be.
